Justin Aruck

Director of Building Performance

While a student at James Madison University I saw a presentation on energy auditing through the college’s student chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers and was immediately hooked. I loved the opportunities for creativity and the ability to affect real changes with real impacts. I can now say I have had the privilege of working in sustainability and energy efficiency for over 12 years and my favorite way to describe what SBP does to friends and family is to say “Well, before a building project happens, we work to figure out how a project that does not exist might exist if it existed and use that work to find meaningful information that helps the building exist better when it finally does exist. Once the project is underway, we work to make sure the project comes to exist in the way it was intended to exist."

Outside of the office I can be found existing and working on various renovation projects in our historic (and slowly getting more energy efficient) home on Chincoteague Island as well as acting and designing/constructing sets and lighting for The Chincoteague Island Theatre Company, which was founded by my (beautiful and talented) wife in 2011.

Scott Atkinson

Residential Programs Manager

Out of college Scott worked in the field of environmental science, focusing on indoor air quality. For many years he has helped clients tackle issues related to mold, sick building syndrome, designing shelter in place programs in response to biological warfare, and general issues related to comfort while indoors.

While studying issues related to general indoor comfort, Scott became involved in green building, sustainability and energy efficiency. He pursued and gained his certification with National Green Building Standard, as a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Rater and ultimately as a Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) Quality Assurance Designee (QAD). Through these experiences Scott has gained a vast knowledge of construction practices, energy modeling and diagnostic testing of buildings and building components, which help design and construct more energy efficient, healthy and ultimately sustainable buildings.

When not at work you can find Scott with his wife and two sons doing all of the activities that young boys love to do. He also enjoys going to local car shows, and if the wife allows it, playing a round of golf.

Brian Atkinson

Commissioning Engineer

story under development...

Mike Babcock

Founder / Managing Partner

Mike has been in the energy efficiency and green building consulting arena for 15 years. With a background in mechanical engineering and a passion for holistic building design, Mike looks to find creative solutions that balance long-term performance and environmental impact with cost, health, comfort, durability, and return on investment. Mike is committed to advancing the art and science of high performing buildings through collaborative workflow, technical agility, and ultimately meaningful dialogue. Mike is grateful everyday for the opportunity to work alongside a wonderful team of professionals that inspire and challenge him to perform at the highest level.

As co-founder and Managing Partner of SBP, Mike is responsible for management of business operations, resource and financial management, training, marketing, QA/QC, and ultimately project delivery. He has extensive experience managing and conducting new and existing building sustainable projects, whole building energy modeling, energy auditing, HVAC design, program consultation and cross-discipline calculations, performance assessments, energy/green building code compliance, M&V, utility incentives and speaks on a variety of energy and sustainability topics. Mike is a Mechanical Engineer from Virginia Tech, is a Certified Energy Manager, and LEED BD+C and O+M. Mike has served as Chair of the USGBC - National Capital Region in addition to other committee and volunteer activities.

As a father of two growingly-curious future-stewards he continuously challenges himself to lead by example but often finds that the little ones are leading him in this effort. Our environment vs. The environment..

"The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity." - Peter Drucker

"Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to come with me and change the world?" - Steve Jobs

Theresa Backhus

Sustainable Program Manager

Theresa has always been interested in design for the environment, starting from a very early age with blocks and Legos. She would create detailed neighborhoods of homes and skyscrapers with operable windows and ceiling fans (EQc Thermal Comfort!), transit (LTc Access to Quality Transit!), and landscaped parks (SSc Open Space!). She turned this passion into a career in green building. At SBP she is part of the sustainability consulting team, working to improve the way people live, work, and play by building sustainably.

Theresa has over 12 years of experience designing, measuring, and improving the performance of buildings, landscapes and communities. Prior to joining SBP, she was with the U.S. Green Building Council where she was integral in the development of the LEED v4 rating system program. Her past work also includes planning, design, construction documentation, and construction observation in both the public and private sectors. Theresa holds a BLA from Virginia Tech, and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke. She is a Registered Landscape Architect, LEED AP BD+C, and SITES AP.

She spends most of her free time working on those never-ending house projects and volunteering with other causes that are near and dear to her heart: hospice care, animal welfare, and social equity.

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mike Boggs

Building Performance Analyst

under development...

Paul Brefka

Sustainable Program Specialist

One of my favorite places in the world is a cabin perched on a mountain ridge in West Virginia. Sleeping on the deck under the stars, waking to the beautiful 360 degree views and sharing it with friends and family are just some of the highlights.

My love of nature began as a child- playing outside with our dogs and learning to fly fish on the streams of CT and ME. Classes in environmental science in high school and college continued to fuel my interest in nature, as did my semester studying in Malta with a focus on sustainable societies, overfishing, and artificial reefs.

My first job out of college introduced me to the construction/building science side of things and I began to get interested in constructing environmentally friendly buildings. At SBP I have moved into a career that is a perfect match with my environmental background and my interests in nature and sustainability.

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.” – Lily Tomlin

Marilyn Dick

Sustainable Program Analyst

As a graduate of Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in Sustainability Studies, a position at SBP was the perfect fit for Marilyn. During her summer internship with SBP, she discovered a love for saving the world through sustainable construction. A member of the Sustainable Consulting team, she assists in pushing LEED projects through certification.

Growing up running barefoot through the grass, exploring the world with her family, and never missing a sunset has led Marilyn to pursue a career that would preserve the great outdoors. Washington D.C. is a whole new playground for her to explore through hiking, biking, kayaking, athletics, and picnicking.

"The road to success is always under construction" - Lily Tomlin

Chris DiPaolo

Sustainable Program Analyst

under development...

Laura Featherstone

Sustainable Program Specialist

Laura graduated from Virginia Tech in 2016 with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Policy and Planning and a minor in Sustainable Natural Environments. Growing up in Northern Virginia, Laura tried to go outside as often as she could. One of her favorite pastimes was walking through the fields and forest with her family’s horses in Nokesville, Virginia. This developed an appreciation for the environment and her desire to preserve it.

While at Virginia Tech she pursued a career in environmental planning which let to an opportunity to become an intern for the Office of Energy and Sustainability, which truly started her love affair with sustainability. Working as an intern helped Laura appreciate both urban planning and sustainability, ultimately leading to her goal of helping to create a more sustainable built environment.

In her free time, Laura can be found trying out local restaurants, going to farmers markets, walking and exploring local parks, and cuddling with her dogs and cats. She is a fan of good food, tea, videogames, and reality television shows. Straight out of college, she is now working at Sustainable Building Partners with the sustainable programs team. She is excited to have the opportunity to work for such a sustainability-oriented company.

Go Hokies!

Dan Ferrante

Building Performance Engineer

After graduating college, Dan landed a job with a HERS provider where he was employed as a HERS rater conducting energy ratings on single-family homes. This was Dan's first foray into the world of energy modeling and diagnostic testing. Dan eventually found his way to Sustainable Building Partners where my world got a lot bigger; expanding into energy modeling for commercial and high-rise buildings. During his time at SBP, Dan has the opportunity to acquire a diverse set of skills and apply them to a range of real world problem solving applications.

When not work Dan enjoys rock climbing, kayaking, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying all the Washington DC area has to offer.

John French

Commissioning Engineer

story under development ...

Trei Green

Commissioning Engineer

From a young age Trei loved being outdoors, whether he was playing back yard football, skateboarding with his friends, or taking weekend trips to go snowboarding. He was especially enamored with the ocean. As teenager, he spent many of his summers surfing along the east coast. He has always found himself at peace when at the beach. Trei hopes to live near the coast again one day where he can teach his kids to surf and share his love for the ocean. That said, Trei understands the importance in environmental sustainability.

Before graduating from Virginia Tech with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Green Engineering, Trei started at SBP as a Commissioning Intern. He was quickly integrated into the world of MEP systems and sustainable building development and performance. Trei found himself intrigued with all the components and systems that go into operating a building in a sustainable manner. After his summer spent interning, Trei fell in love with the culture at SBP and wanted to continue their mission. Trei took on an extended internship his final year at Virginia Tech. After graduating Trei returned to SBP as a full time Commissioning Agent and has not looked back since!

Bennett Heussler

Commissioning Engineer

Story under development ...

Dave Jacob

Building Performance Engineer

Dave is an extrovert, so he is always able to thrive in a group environment. This was a skill that he believes he picked up in college and, education aside, thinks it an important aspect of what he took away from school. It drives everything he does. Coming from a big family has helped as well. It almost feels weird to him to not be around people, as that is what he has known for most of his life. Dave is always driven to ask questions. Growing up with an engineering father also piqued his interest in science and math. Dave was always exposed to it, and it was never out of the norm for him to be taking something apart just to see how it worked. He was always interested in the idea that pretty much everything in this world is comprised of systems. Each thing has several sub “things” that make it work. This is the foundation of Dave's interest in and passion for green building. Aside from the physical building, there are so many other sub-systems that work behind the scenes to produce an affective building.

Dave believes that one never grows up, they just get older. It is evident by his interest in technology, and his ongoing collection of “toys,” like computers, Apple Watches, and the like. Technology drives the world, and can bring people together. Technology is awesome!

Jeremy Knibbs

Building Performance Manager

Simply put Jeremy enjoys spending time outdoors. Jeremy moved to the Shenandoah Valley recently so his family could enjoy the mountains everyday. Jeremy has a sincere desire to preserve and protect the environment that his family enjoys. He is glad to be working at SBP each day to contribute to a more sustainable environment and world by contributing to building efficiency which reduces energy consumption, and continuing to push for more aggressive strides towards a net zero energy economy; ultimately weaning our culture off the need to harvest non-renewable based energy sources.

Meliss Langert

Operations Manager

Story under development...

Devante Martin

Building Performance Analyst

At a very youn age, in elementary school, Devante was scared to find out that we would one day run out of fossil fuels and, fortunately, that there are ways to preserve what we have and renewable sources. Since then, his interest in making the world a more sustainable place has grown. Along the way, he decided to pursue Mechanical Engineering at George Mason University and gained experience with renewable energy sources and building system design and performance. This eventually led him to SBP, which has allowed him to contribute to a more sustainable future through building performance.

Scott Neill

Sustainable Program Analyst

Scott's passion for the environment came about from camping and canoe trips in Ontario and Maine. His inspiration - and some degree of romanticism - came from environmental writers like Thoreau, Jon Krakauer, and Edward Abbey. After receiving an undergrad in cultural anthropology from UMW, his ambitions grew out of the unique understanding whereby Westerners view nature - as an object of alienation. Seeking to close this gap that he too was experiencing, he spent several months in South America learning amongst Amerindian societies.

With the fortune to have had this experience, Scott went back to earn a master’s in natural resources at Virginia Tech to apply theory into practice. As a student consultant he developed a practical understanding of resource challenges we are currently facing. Energy being the primary global driver that dictates environmental policy. Ever since he has worked in various capacities installing retrofits, performing residential ratings, and energy modeling. SBP has encouraged him to pursue a balanced approach to energy consulting; reaffirming an ethos that people with informed decisions (or lack thereof sometimes) are what makes the world tick. Realizing them as the most important of resources will pay off for future generations and our planet.

Aside from being a national parks junkie, Scott enjoys hiking with his wife Sarah, reading, occasional DC United games, spicy foods, jiu jitsu practice, and volunteering.

Rachel Nicely

Sustainable Program Manager

As a youngster, Rachel was fascinated to learn about green house gas and pollution. Over the years, she has turned this fascination into her chief ambition to single-handedly save the earth. She currently spends her days advising projects how to incorporate sustainability into the built environment. Originally an army brat, she decided to stay in the DC area so she can pollute the air while in traffic, thus keeping herself marketable.

Rachel joined SBP in 2011, adding to the 70% JMU ISAT population within the company – Go Dukes! Though she has a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, she has yet to design a wastewater treatment system and hopes that will never be in the cards for her (crappy work). Rachel’s 9 years of experience with LEED projects has lead her to managing the LEEDers in SBP where the team kicks sustainability butt.

Her family has been susceptible to her environmental influences while updating their 50+ year old home. They tolerate her antics only because if she ran away they would never have clean clothes. She and her husband are raising two rug rats raring to save the planet.

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud – Maya Angelou

Phillip Parrish

Commissioning Team Manager

Phillip Parrish began his academic career with an interest in Physics with the intent of understanding how energy was utilized by all system, biological and mechanical. However, after the first semester of his Junior year at JMU he discovered that ISAT ,which offered a concentration in Energy, would provide a more focused study of the flow of energy (I.e. thermal physics and mechanical engineering). After graduating Mr. Parrish decided to pursue a career in energy policy as a contractor with the Department of Energy.

As a contractor with the DOE Mr. Parrish hoped to reduce environmental impacts caused from the consumption of our natural resources. Unfortunately the resulting work at the Department of Energy was geared toward supporting the industry but did not lead a direct impact on the reduction of the use of our natural resources. After roughly 2 years at the Department of Energy Mr. Parrish decided to pursue a career more directly focused on reducing the consumption of natural resources. Now Mr. Parrish finds himself working at Sustainable Building Partners which provides a more satisfying career helping to reduce the energy consumption of newly constructed and existing buildings.

“You can never stop hating someone until you know them, and you can never know someone until you stop hating them." - Orson Scott Card

Jake Rasmussen

Building Performance Engineer

My journey through my professional years has largely been shaped by my desire for knowledge. Gaining knowledge about the world around him, and how we all navigate within it, was instilled in Jake from a young age. In addition, he has always had a fascination with the natural world. Being from a mostly rural area, Jake spent a large portion of his childhood outdoors. Although this has fallen off slightly since beginning his professional career, he still attempts to take advantage of outdoor activities whenever possible. As such, it seemed natural to pursue a role within the field of sustainability. Jake has always desired to make a direct impact on the world of today, as well as tomorrow, which perfectly suits sustainability and building science. Pursuing this growing field, and SBP in particular, seemed to be the best way to fluidly implement his childhood ideologies into my adult life.

"Stay classy San Diego" - Ron Burgundy

Jess Swaringen

Commissioning Engineer

As an avid fisherman and outdoor enthusiast, Jess was lured to a career in sustainable development as a means to buoy and encourage practices that preserve natural resources for future generations.

It was while earning his MS in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University that Jess was first hooked on the concepts of holistic designa nd systems thinking. By diving deep into the factors lurking beneath the surface, we can reel in more effective solutions while minimizing the risk of unintended consequences.

After graduating Jess decied to cast a wider net and accpeted a position at an energy consulting firm, where he assisted commercial real estate clients in identifying and catching utility cost-reduction savings opportunities. He brings building systems experience to the SBP commissioining team, where he hopes to channel his passions into making a positive impact on the built environment.

When he is not making up bad fishing puns, Jess enjoys hiking, camping, playing sports, and watching Villanova Wildcats basketball.

Jake Torok

Building Performance Manager

After spending no less then half of his parenting-life reading (and re-reading) Dr. Seuss, its only fitting that Dr. Seuss has provided Jake with some much needed guidance when it comes to maintaining a clear head both at home and work. When not being fully consumed in the energy modeling lifestyle at SBP, Jake balances life with two little ones, a hyperactive dog, and his patient wife. Somewhere in-between he finds time to coach swimming, train for marathons, fix-up his dream home, and play countless games of Pretty, Pretty Princess. Jake’s affinity for problem solving helps to work through the trials and tribulations of potty training a toddler, but ultimately piqued his interest in building energy performance and drove him into the field of energy modeling.

“Step with care and great tact, and remember that life’s a great balancing act.” - Dr. Seuss

Jeff Wiggins

Building Performance Engineer

Jeff Wiggins always enjoyed K’nex and Legos growing up, always wanting to build and improve anything that he constructed. That has led him to the modeling department at SBP, where he enjoys bringing together all the aspects of building system design to give effective and meaningful input back to the client, resulting in the best product for owner and occupants. Outside of work he is a craft beer enthusiast, and fan of all DC sports (despite the pain involved).

Dan Wilcox

Founder / Senior Partner

As Partner and co-founder of SBP, Mr. Wilcox offers clients over 30 years of experience in the energy industry. He has experience in utility power procurement, energy auditing, building commissioning, measurement & verification execution, HVAC design reviews, LEED consultation and administration, LEED credit calculation and compliance, business development, sales, and project management. He is also heavily active in ENERGY STAR consulting services and general energy project support. Dan's work experience includes commercial, industrial, and residential facilities.

Mr. Wilcox graduated with a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic University. He is a Certified Energy Auditor in the State of California, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Jennifer Wolf

Sustainable Program Manager

Jennifer graduated from Virginia Tech and started her career in the construction industry with a commercial contractor in the Washington, DC area. After working on a high school project targeting LEED Gold certification and managing the construction credit documentation she realized her true interests were in the green building field. She made a career switch into a green building consulting role at SBP and has loved every minute! At work, most of her time is devoted to guiding projects through the LEED certification process. During her free time, you can find her traveling with her husband, daughter, and crazy Lab and doing anything active (biking, skiing, boating, fishing, running). If she happens to be at home, she’ll attempt to whip up a good meal or tend to her garden. But she’ll be the first to tell you, she is better at finishing a great movie.